The Lead

The Rt. Rev. Michael Smith has proposed that he might become the Dean of the Cathedral in Fargo while remaining Bishop of North Dakota. The Bishop of Western Kansas was elected in August 2010 and remained rector of a Western Kansas church.

What I am proposing is consideration of the following:

The bishop serves on a 1/3-time basis for the Diocese as the episcopal minister and a 2/3-time basis as rector/dean of the Cathedral.

Serving with the bishop as part of a pastoral staff would be:

a full-time Administrator, serving both the Diocese and the Cathedral;
a full-time Secretary, serving both the Diocese and the Cathedral;
a 1/4-time Minister or two 1/8-time Ministers for Pastoral Care serving the Cathedral;
1.875 (FTE) Ministers serving the Diocese as the Bishop’s Diocesan Ministry Team (the three current Canon Missioners and the Bishop’s Executive Assistant).

...
Realizing that there will be many questions, I am posting this letter on my Blog. I invite you and others beyond the Chapter and Diocesan Council to post comments and/or questions there in hopes of engaging in an online discussion. (If you have difficulty posting there, contact me at bpnodak@aol.com and I’ll post for you.)

It is not clear from this post whether the Pastoral Care minister will be ordained or not.

What are your thoughts? Questions? Comments?

Comments (10)

It is encouraging to see people thinking about new ways for Bishops to handle their responsibilities. Our earliest Bishops were often rectors of parishes.

[Welcome first time commenter. When commenting in the future please note our policy: sign your first and last name if your username is not your actual name. - ed.]

Posted by dweir | January 18, 2011 8:27 AM

Fine with me, but please: no "Very Right Reverend" - or there will be schism for sure. (If we don't take our titles seriously, who will?)

Posted by Josh Thomas | January 18, 2011 9:57 AM

The plan seems like it's worth a try in a diocese such as North Dakota. Combining the two posts will have the advantage of saving money.

June Butler

Posted by GrandmèreMimi | January 18, 2011 10:10 AM

Thinking outside the box is going to be the best way for the Episcopal Church to live into a better future. Here in Bucks Deanery (DioPA) we are exploring all kinds of ways to meet the challenges that face us in new and creative ways. Business as usual can no longer be business as usual.

Posted by Peter Pearson | January 18, 2011 10:23 AM

I don't know the situation in North Dakota, but in principle, I think it is wise to be flexible about how the episcopacy is practiced in small dioceses, or large, sparsely populated ones.

Posted by Jim Naughton | January 18, 2011 11:00 AM

The Moravians have done this sort of thing for centuries. It works. We did it for quite a while too,. Bp. White was a rector for 57 years including while while he was bishop and presiding bishop.

We need to re-think the Roman oriented imperial episcopate.

FWIW
jimBeyer

Posted by jimB | January 18, 2011 3:20 PM

How does this work in terms of salary?

Does the Bishop (and/or the others ¨covering¨ the bases to help the financials) salary remain the same or increase?

Will all of the former ¨Deans expense extras¨ be a savings to the diocese of North Dakota?...it all sounds ¨well-meaning¨ but in a way that ought have the enthusiastic 2-3 approval of the Congregation as well as strong endorsement from the Standing Committee and Vestry in order for the ¨combined duties¨ NOT to result in a ¨one party-line voice¨ that would limit diversity and inhibit free expression (and the movement of the Holy Spirit amongst ALL).

Posted by Leonardo Ricardo | January 18, 2011 7:39 PM

While I enjoy reading about this and am tempted to chime in that it sounds great, I am happy that any real judgment, opinions, and decisions remain that of the Diocese of North Dakota and the Gethsemane Cathedral.

Joe Brewer

Posted by joebrewer | January 18, 2011 8:21 PM

I support thinking outside of the box about organizational structure. We must remember that the structure exists to support Missio Dei. If existing structures aren't viable due to insufficient revenues, then we must look at alternatives such as collaborative efforts to share work and share revenues and expenses. God is constantly creating a new thing, and we must stop getting in God's way through our idolization of sacred cows, however wonderful those cows might have been at one time. Sacrificial giving is fundamental to our spiritual health, and that includes sacrificial giving up of things we hold dear like the way we've always done things.

Posted by Lelanda Lee | January 18, 2011 11:46 PM

This is not novel; John Walker served as dean of his own cathedral for over a decade.

Posted by C. Wingate | January 19, 2011 9:21 AM

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